norton



(No Model.) 2 Sheet sSheet 1.

4 J. A. NORTON.

TABLE ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS.

N0. 573,909. Patented Dec. 29, 1896.

2 Sheath-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. A. NORTON; TABLE ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS- No. 573,909. Patented Dec.29,1896.

wwwmmg 1 i Ml k UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. NORTON, OF ODEBOLT, IOWVA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JOHN R.MATTES AND FRANK P. MOTIE, OF SAME PLACE.

TABLE ATTACHMENT FOR BEDS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 573,909, dated December29, 1896. Application filed March 13, 1896. Serial No. 583,140. (Nomodel.)

To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. NORTON, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Odebolt, in the county of Sac and State of Iowa,have invented a new-and useful Table Attachment for Beds, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a device of cheap, simple,and durable construction designed to be attached to the head-board of abed and when in an extended position provides a table that is adjustableto and from the head of the bed and which is firmly supported regardlessof the movements of the bed proper, especially designed for thepromotion of the convenience and comfort of invalids by providing asupport for liquid food, medicines, &c., without danger of being upsetor spilled.

My object is, further, to provide a table that may readily and quicklybe attached to any bedstead and be movable vertically thereon, and,further, to provide means for automatically elevating the table andholding it in an elevated position, so that shocks and jars thereto willnot cause it to drop, and so it will be retained in position to supporta pillowsham holder when not in use as a table.

My inventionconsists in certain details of construction and arrangementof the various parts of the table and the combination thereof with abed, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a perspectiveview of a bed with the table attached thereto and in an elevatedposition and the pillow-sham holder also in position. Fig. 2 shows alongitudinal section of the bed and table attachment. Fig. 3 shows adetail perspective of the corner of the head-board and thetable in itslowered position. Fig. 4 shows a section through the corner of thehead-board and the table in its folded position. Fig. 5 shows a verticaltransverse sectional view of a bed with a modified form of table thereonand with dotted lines showing the table slipped downwardly in itssupports and resting against the head-board of the bed. Fig. 6 shows alongitudinal section of the same. Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal section ofthe head of the bed with the same table in its position for use. Fig. 8shows a section through the line 8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 shows alongitudinal section through the line 9 9 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 10 shows amodified device for pivoting the sides of the table to the bed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference-letter A is usedto indicate the bed, and A the head-board thereof, all of the usualconstruction.

Two arms B B, made of wood and grooved on their inner faces, arepivotally secured to the inner surfaces of the corner-post of thehead-board at a point a short distance above the bed-surface, as at B,and stops B are fixed to the corner-posts in the rear of the headboardin position to be engaged by the rear ends of the arms 13 when said armsare swung to a horizontal position, as required, to support them in saidposition. At the outer end of said arms B B is a cross-piece 0, having ashoulder O on its inner surface on the same plane as the grooves in saidarms.

A table-top D is placed in the grooves in said arms and is capable ofsliding longitudinally thereof. When at its outer limit, its forwardedge is of course supported by the shoulder 0 Catches D are attached tothe inner edge of the table to engage the sides of the arms and normallyprevent the table-top from sliding downwardly when the arms are in theirelevated position. They may be disengaged by a pressure of the fingerson the catches when it is desirable to adjust the table-top.

D indicates a cord attached to the arms B to provide means whereby apillow sham may be secured to the attachment.

It is obvious that the attachment need add but very little to the costof manufacture of a bedstead and that the under surface of the table-topmay be ornamented to conform to the finish of the head of the bed andtherefore not detract from the appearance of the bed. WVhen it is to beused, the table is lowered and the occupant of the bed may rest with hisback against the head-board and may then move the table close to him.

In the modified form shown on Sheet 2 of the drawings the arms andtable-top are of substantially the same construction.

F indicates metal sleeves pivotally secured to the corner-posts of thehead-board by means of the bolts F The ends of the arms are admittedinto these sleeves and the parts are so arranged that the arms may lieparallel with the head-board and slide longitudinally in the sleeves. Apin H is passed through each arm to engage the sleeve and hold the armin its elevated position, that is, prevent it from sliding downwardlythrough the sleeve. Stops H are provided to limit this downwardmovement. It is obvious that these pins may be readily and quicklywithdrawn and the table lowered relative to the head of the bed. This isdone when the table would project above the top of the head-board in itsnormal position, and when the occupant of the bed is sitting up and thetable would strike his head if swung straight outwardly the table-top isfirst raised and then placed in its horizontal position. I have alsoprovided means for automatically elevating the table and holding it inits elevated position or at any desirable angle, as follows: J indicatesa spring-actuated ratchet-roller of substantially the same constructionas those usually employed for window-curtains. It is fixed to the rearof the head-board, and cords J 2 are wound thereupon and fixed to theouter corner of the table. It is readily understood how the table issupported at any position in which it may be placed by means of saidcords and the ratchet-roller.

In the modificationillustrated by Fig. 10 the curved plates M providemeans whereby the arms that support the table may be pivotally attachedto the corner-posts of the bed and yet be capable of lying parallel withthe headboard, and at the same time not require the defacement of saidhead-board by removing parts of it for the admission of the ends of thearms, as with the other forms shown.

By attaching the cord D to the arms B, as shown in Fig. l, the device isalso adapted to serve as a pillow-sham holder, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor,

A table attachment for beds, comprising two arms grooved on their innersurfaces and pivotally connected with the corner-posts of the head-boardof a bed, stops secured to said corner-posts to support the arms in ahorizontal plane, a cross-piece at the outer ends of said arms having ashoulder on its inner face, a table-top slidingly mounted in saidgrooves and designed to rest on said shoulder, and catches for holdingsaid table in place, substantially as set forth.

JAMES A. NORTON.

Witnesses:

J. RALPH ORWIG, THOMAS G. OR'WIG.

